Guest Starring Erik Estrada and Carrot Top...

Am I the only person who watches the ABC sitcom "The Neighbors?"  I might be.  But you're missing out.  When it debuted last season, I thought it was going to be the stupidest thing to ever air on television, but after watching a few episodes I fell in love with its goofiness, its likeable characters, and I let the horrible concept of aliens coming to earth slide.  But admit I watch it?  No way. 

I feel like this post is my coming out party.  I'm coming out of "The Neighbors" closet.  I have never seen an episode of Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, or American Horror Story, but I have seen every episode of "The Neighbors."  Yes.  It's true.  Throw your pop culture stones.

Last night's episode featured two guest stars, Erik Estrada, of CHIPS fame, and Las Vegas's own Carrot Top.  Both of these men have had guest starring roles in my life, so I thought I'd take this sniffling, sore-throated Saturday to tell you my Erik Estrada and Carrot Top stories. 

Let's start with Erik Estrada.

To properly understand this story you have to know my mom.  My mom prides herself in being a modern day Lucy Ricardo - able to find and harass celebrities in a single bound.  She has set her sights on many a celebrity in her day, and, for the most part, as found whoever it was she was seeking.  She was TMZ before TMZ was born.

When I was a baby, she had her eye on the men of CHIPS.  Actually, Erik Estrada wasn't her focus.  She wanted to get her hands on the blonde one - Larry Wilcox.  So when my family took a vacation to California, her goal was simple - limit sightseeing to tracking down CHIPS.  I don't know how much driving around it took, but, sure enough, she found where they were shooting.  She left my father in the car, grabbed infant me, and headed into the mass of trailers, wires, cameras and extras in search of Larry Wilcox.

But it wasn't Larry Wilcox that she found.  The first trailer she banged on was answered by the one, the only, the Ponch - Erik Estrada.  She greeted him warmly, had some random chit chat, and then asked him where Larry Wilcox was.  On a mission, my mother dumped me in Erik Estrada's arms and headed off to blonder pastures.

Yes, you read that right.  My Lucy Ricardo mother left me with Erik Estrada.

I suspect if she hadn't tracked down Larry Wilcox you all would know me as Gwen Estrada now.

As for Carrot Top, I'm sure most of you are aware how great his show is at Luxor in Las Vegas.  So often I hear people say, "I didn't want to go, but I ended up loving it."  It's the greatest back handed compliment ever.  Truth?  I felt the same way.  I didn't want to go.  And I feel like a jerk about it now.  After seeing his show a few times, I have to tell you that Carrot Top is probably the most genuine, good-hearted and funny entertainer I've seen.

I've gone several times now.  And every time I go, he looks out into the crowd and remembers my face.  I always wear a big flower with a carrot on it in my hair, so that probably helps the memory, but with all the people he sees every year - hell, all the people he sees every week - it blows my brain that he'd remember little ol' me.  And it makes me feel like he really appreciates his audience, doesn't take us for granted, and realizes that he wouldn't be where he is without us.  You know, those of us who said, "I didn't want to go, but I ended up loving it." 

So there are your confessions for the day - I watch The Neighbors, my mom left me with Erik Estrada, and I love Carrot Top.  I'm off to say my Hail Marys. 

Welcome...

As we roll into 2014, after a year of major changes in my life, my Vegas travels will be changing as well.  Last year was a study in not losing my home.  Traveling to Vegas every few weeks was an amazing experience and most people wouldn't have survived.  I guess you could say I'm a Vegas professional.  I got all my win/loss records and there's no surprise that I won't be paying any taxes on all my W-2s, but fortunately the loss column wasn't so large that I can't say last year wasn't worth my while.  Once you figure in the comps I received, the sanity gained by spending most of the year in Vegas, and the fun I had, I'd say it was a winning year.

If you don't count the whole filing for divorce thing.

Yes, it's true.  Despite starting my marriage with such promise, it turns out that my husband didn't turn out to be Prince Charming.  I could sit here and tell you all the dirty details, but that's not what this is about.  This is about Vegas.  This is about establishing a place for me to tell you what I think about Vegas, what's new in Vegas, and what happens in Vegas when I'm there. 

If you want to read about nightclubs and DJ's and stumbling down hallways at 4 am with heels in hand, this is not the blog for you.  This is the story of a girl who gambles, enjoys great restaurants, shows, and good times with friends.  If I end up in a club it's because I got dragged there with a bag over my head.  But, hey, it's Vegas, so that's totally within the realm of possibility.

The other thing that's within the realm of possibility is a possible move in my future.  I've lived in Los Angeles for nearly 20 years now and, let's face it, there's nothing cheap about living in L.A.  It's a big city with little personality, and there's no such thing as community here.  I have a few wonderful friends here, but I yearn to live in a house with walls that I don't have to share with other people.  Having a house in L.A. would require me to A) win the lottery or B) move to the ghetto.  I don't foresee either happening.  So we'll just have to see how life pans out.  Maybe we can look at real estate in Vegas together. 

Thanks for reading this very scattered introduction. 
xo